MIT Graduation Speech: At the 2025 commencement ceremony of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Class President Megha Vemuri used her platform to deliver a powerful and controversial speech criticizing Israel and highlighting the Palestinian cause. Her remarks, made in front of a packed crowd of graduates, faculty, and guests, have since gone viral and sparked widespread discussion.
Wearing a red keffiyeh, a traditional scarf symbolizing solidarity with Palestinians, Vemuri began by acknowledging the student-led activism on campus that had called attention to the war in Gaza. She praised her fellow students for standing up against what she called “genocide,” referencing the large-scale destruction and humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
MIT’s class prez Megha Vemuri used her graduation speech to lash out at Israel.
What does this kind of performative activism actually achieve, aside from launching yet another activism career built on commodifying tragedy?
If these student activists are serious about making a… pic.twitter.com/QXS3My82DZ
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) May 30, 2025
“You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine,” she declared, addressing the graduates. She accused Israel of trying to “wipe Palestine off the face of the earth” and criticized MIT for maintaining research collaborations with the Israeli military. Vemuri claimed that MIT is the only U.S. academic institution with official ties to a foreign military, which she argued made the university complicit in violence.
Throughout the speech, Vemuri emphasized the moral responsibility of institutions and individuals to speak out against injustice. She highlighted the struggles faced by students who supported the Palestinian cause, alleging that they were met with threats and suppression, even from within the university itself.
In a particularly emotional moment, she reminded the audience that while MIT students were celebrating their graduation, universities in Gaza had been reduced to rubble. “There are no universities left in Gaza,” she said, urging her classmates to use their privilege and education to stand for life, justice, and peace.
The speech received a mixed response from the audience. Some graduates and attendees applauded and joined in chanting “Free, Free Palestine,” while others remained silent. Following Vemuri’s address, MIT President Sally Kornbluth acknowledged the right to free expression but urged students to remember the celebratory purpose of the event.
Vemuri’s speech has drawn praise and criticism alike, reflecting broader tensions on U.S. campuses over the Israel-Palestine conflict. While some view her as a courageous voice for human rights, others believe political activism should be separate from graduation ceremonies.
Either way, her words have ensured that the 2025 MIT commencement will be remembered far beyond the academic milestone it marked.
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